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Search indexed NASA NTRS and DOE OSTI research on propulsion, heat transfer, battery materials and energy systems. Follow report and document links to the original sources.

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At least 145 records · Page 8
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2015

Superconducting transport in single and parallel double InAs quantum dot Josephson junctions with Nb-based superconducting electrodes

We report conductance and supercurrent measurements for InAs single and parallel double quantum dot Josephson junctions contacted with Nb or NbTiN superconducting electrodes. Large superconducting gap energy, high critical field, and large switching current are observed, all reflecting the features of Nb-based electrodes. For the parallel double dots, we observe an enhanced supercurrent when both dots are on resonance, which may reflect split Cooper pair tunneling.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗
DOE OSTI2020

Nodeless Superconducting Gap in the Candidate Topological Superconductor Sn{sub 1-x}In{sub x}Te for x=0.7.

High-pressure synthesis techniques have allowed for the growth of Sn1-xInxTe samples beyond the ambient In-saturation limit of x = 0.5 (T-c similar to 4.5 K). In this study we present measurements of the temperature dependence of the London penetration depth Delta lambda(T) in this superconducting doped topological insulator for x = 0.7, where T-c(,onset) approximate to 5 K. The results indicate fully gapped BCS-like behavior, ruling out odd-parity A(2u), pairing; however, odd-parity A(1u) in pairing is still possible. Critical field values measured below 1 K and other superconducting parameters are also presented.

Smylie, M. P.↗
DOE OSTI2015

Superconducting gap evolution in overdoped BaFe 2 ( As 1 - x P x ) 2 single crystals through nanocalorimetry

We report on specific heat measurements on clean overdoped BaFe 2 (As 1-x P x ) 2 single crystals performed with a high resolution membrane-based nanocalorimeter. A nonzero residual electronic specific heat coefficient at zero temperature γ r = C/T | T→ 0 is seen for all doping compositions, indicating a considerable fraction of the Fermi surface ungapped or having very deep minima. The remaining superconducting electronic specific heat is analyzed through a two-band s-wave alpha model in order to investigate the gap structure. Close to optimal doping we detect a single zero-temperature gap of Δ 0 ~ 5.3 meV, corresponding to Δ 0 /k B T c ~ 2.2. Increasing the phosphorus concentration x, the main gap reduces till a value of Δ 0 ~ 1.9 meV for x = 0.55 and a second weaker gap becomes evident. From the magnetic field effect on γ r , all samples however show similar behavior γ r (H) $-$ γ r (H = 0) ∝ to H n , with n between 0.6 and 0.7]. This indicates that, despite a considerable redistribution of the gap weights, the total degree of gap anisotropy does not change drastically with doping.

Campanini, D.↗
DOE OSTI2017

Imaging the spatial form of a superconducting order parameter via Josephson scanning tunneling spectroscopy

Motivated by recent experiments, we investigate Josephson scanning tunneling spectroscopy in an s-wave superconductor. Here, we demonstrate that the spatial oscillations in the superconducting order parameter induced by defects can be spatially imaged through local measurements of the critical Josephson current, providing unprecedented insight into the nature of superconductivity. The spatial form of the Josephson current reflects the nature of the defects, and can be used to probe defect-induced phase transitions from an S = 0 to an S = 1/2 ground state.

Graham, Martin↗
DOE OSTI2024

Quasiparticle Poisoning of Superconducting Qubits from Resonant Absorption of Pair-Breaking Photons

The ideal superconductor provides a pristine environment for the delicate states of a quantum computer: because there is an energy gap to excitations, there are no spurious modes with which the qubits can interact, causing irreversible decay of the quantum state. As a practical matter, however, there exists a high density of excitations out of the superconducting ground state even at ultralow temperature; these are known as quasiparticles. Observed quasiparticle densities are of order 1 μ m - 3 , tens of orders of magnitude greater than the equilibrium density expected from theory. Nonequilibrium quasiparticles extract energy from the qubit mode and can induce dephasing. Here we show that a dominant mechanism for quasiparticle poisoning is direct absorption of high-energy photons at the qubit junction. We use a Josephson junction-based photon source to controllably dose qubit circuits with millimeter-wave radiation, and we use an interferometric quantum gate sequence to reconstruct the charge parity of the qubit. We find that the structure of the qubit itself acts as a resonant antenna for millimeter-wave radiation, providing an efficient path for photons to generate quasiparticles. A deep understanding of this physics will pave the way to realization of next-generation superconducting qubits that are robust against quasiparticle poisoning.

Liu, Chuan-Hong↗
DOE OSTI2019

Diagnosis of Factors Impacting Yield in Multilayer Devices for Superconducting Electronics

The ability to localize defects in order to understand failure mechanisms in complex superconducting electronics circuits, while operating at low temperature, does not yet exist. Here, this work applies thermally-induced voltage alteration (TIVA), to a biased superconducting electronics (SCE) circuit at ambient temperature. TIVA is a commonly used, laser-based failure analysis technique developed for silicon-based microelectronics. The non-operational circuit consisted of an arithmetic logic unit (ALU) in a high-frequency test bed designed at HYPRES and fabricated by MIT Lincoln Laboratory using their SFQ5ee process. Localized TIVA signals were correlated with reflected light images at the surface, and these sites were further investigated by scanning electron microscopy imaging of focused ion-beam cross-sections. The areas investigated, where prominent TIVA signals were observed, showed seams in the Nb wiring layers at contacts to Josephson junctions or inductors and/or disrupted junction morphologies. Finally, these results suggest that the TIVA technique can be used at ambient temperature to diagnose fabrication defects that may cause low temperature circuit failure.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2024

Investigation of hot-spots due to trapped flux in niobium superconducting radiofrequency cavities

One of the significant sources of residual losses in superconducting radio-frequency cavities is magnetic flux trapped during the cool-down due to the incomplete Messier effect. If the trapped vortices are non-uniformly distributed on the cavity surface, the temperature mapping revealed the “hotspots” at the location of high density of pinned vortices. Here, we performed a rf test on 1.3 GHz single cell cavity with the combination of the temperature mapping system. The temperature mapping reveled the development of the hot spots with the increase in rf field inside the cavity. When magnetic field is trapped locally on the surface of cavity, the hot-spots strength increase rapidly, showing the direct correlation of vortex induced hot spot and corresponding rf loss.

Accelerator Physics↗
DOE OSTI2026

A plan to revitalize the domestic superconducting radio-frequency industry

Superconducting radio-frequency (SRF) cavities are essential building blocks of modern particle accelerators for scientific research, and they offer unique capabilities that could be transformative for commercial applications. Growth of the domestic SRF industry in North America has faced several challenges over the past decades, as most of the international demand for cavities was supplied by European vendors. This contribution provides a brief review of the domestic industrial vendor space, an outlook of the global demand for SRF cavities and an outline of the challenges leading to this supply chain deficiency. One of the main challenges towards establishing a robust domestic SRF industry has been the large uncertainty in the demand. Meanwhile, research and development activities to raise technical readiness of SRF accelerators for industrial use have continued and several potential markets are emerging that may offer a consistent and growing demand for SRF cavities. Finally, reasons and means of establishing and sustaining competitive domestic suppliers are described.

Accelerator Physics↗
DOE OSTI2024

Testing high-current superconducting subscale dipole coils with superconducting transformer

Several sub-scale superconducting dipole coils are being developed at Fermilab in the framework of the U.S. Magnet Development Program. These coils are made of high-current LTS and HTS cables with maximum currents of up to 10 kA. A superconducting current transformer with a maximum DC current up to ~25 kA previously developed at Fermilab for Nb3Sn Rutherford cable testing was modified and adapted for small dipole coil testing. This paper describes its commissioning using a NbTi dipole magnet impregnated with TELENE. This magnet was wound out of 6/1 NbTi cable.

Barzi, Emanuela↗
NASA NTRS1980

Space applications of superconductivity - Low frequency superconducting sensors

Although this paper deals with several low-frequency instruments and devices, most of the discussion relates to SQUID (Superconducting QUantum Interference Device) magnetometers and gradiometers, since these are perceived as the instruments with the greatest potential for space applications. The discussion covers SQUID for magnetic field measurements; present state of the art of SQUID technology; ultimate potential performance; applications to magnetic measurements in space; SQUID galvanometers, voltage and current sensors, and wide-band amplifiers; magnetic shielding, and superconducting dc transformer. SQUIDS are superior to all other magnetic sensors in sensitivity, frequency response, range, and linearity. It is suggested that SQUID instruments, both magnetometers and gradiometers, would be valuable in studies of the dynamics of interplanetary and planetary fields. SQUID gradiometers are useful for detection and mapping of magnetic anomalies at short to moderate ranges.

Zimmerman, J. E.↗
DOE OSTI2015

Proof-of-principle demonstration of Nb{sub 3}Sn superconducting radiofrequency cavities for high Q{sub 0} applications

Many future particle accelerators require hundreds of superconducting radiofrequency (SRF) cavities operating with high duty factor. The large dynamic heat load of the cavities causes the cryogenic plant to make up a significant part of the overall cost of the facility. This contribution can be reduced by replacing standard niobium cavities with ones coated with a low-dissipation superconductor such as Nb{sub 3}Sn. In this paper, we present results for single cell cavities coated with Nb{sub 3}Sn at Cornell. Five coatings were carried out, showing that at 4.2 K, high Q{sub 0} out to medium fields was reproducible, resulting in an average quench field of 14 MV/m and an average 4.2 K Q{sub 0} at quench of 8 × 10{sup 9}. In each case, the peak surface magnetic field at quench was well above H{sub c1}, showing that it is not a limiting field in these cavities. The coating with the best performance had a quench field of 17 MV/m, exceeding gradient requirements for state-of-the-art high duty factor SRF accelerators. It is also shown that—taking into account the thermodynamic efficiency of the cryogenic plant—the 4.2 K Q{sub 0} values obtained meet the AC power consumption requirements of state-of-the-art high duty factor accelerators, making this a proof-of-principle demonstration for Nb{sub 3}Sn cavities in future applications.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗
DOE OSTI2015

Magnetic flux studies in horizontally cooled elliptical superconducting cavities

Previous studies on magnetic flux expulsion as a function of cooldown procedures for elliptical superconducting radio frequency (SRF) niobium cavities showed that when the cavity beam axis is placed parallel to the helium cooling flow and sufficiently large thermal gradients are achieved, all magnetic flux could be expelled and very low residual resistance could be achieved. In this paper, we investigate flux trapping for the case of resonators positioned perpendicularly to the helium cooling flow, which is more representative of how SRF cavities are cooled in accelerators and for different directions of the applied magnetic field surrounding the resonator. We show that different field components have a different impact on the surface resistance, and several parameters have to be considered to fully understand the flux dynamics. A newly discovered phenomenon of concentration of flux lines at the cavity top leading to temperature rise at the cavity equator is presented.

43 PARTICLE ACCELERATORS↗
DOE OSTI2017

Thermal fluctuations of the Josephson current in a ring of superconducting grains

Thermal fluctuations of the Josephson current induced by the magnetic flux through a ring of N superconducting grains are studied. When a half-fluxon is threading the ring, I exhibits incoherent transitions between the two degenerate states due to thermal phase slips. In this study, we propose a numerical method to deal with both equilibrium and dynamic properties of Josephson systems. Computed transition rate has the form Γ = A(N) exp[-B(N)/T ], where B(N) agrees with the analytical result derived for the energy barrier associated with phase slips. In the nondegenerate case (e.g., at a quarter-fluxon) the equilibrium value of I decreases with T due to harmonic excitations and then gets destroyed by phase slips.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗